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‘Engage Landlords to Curb Counterfeiting,’ says BASCAP

According to a new white paper from Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP)- an initiative by International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has provided a strategic action plan to involve property owners to fight against counterfeit goods and other measures that can be taken to combat counterfeiting.

“Property owners and landlords are a critical link in the global supply chain for legitimate commerce and most landlords are responsible partners who do not want to do business with criminals engaging with illegal counterfeiting and piracy practices,” says Paola Piccoli, chair of BASCAP’s Landlords Working Group at the Europol IP Crime Conference in Antwerp, Belgium and also brand enforcement and IP counsel for Swiss group Maus Freres/Lacoste.

He further added that knowingly or unknowingly, some landlords are aiding the criminal networks dealing in counterfeit and pirated goods which must be stopped.

This project is a part of BASCAP initiative targeting intermediaries involved in illicit commerce unknowingly which includes raw material suppliers, online marketplaces, credit card companies, shipping firms, internet service providers and social media sites.

The white paper also indicated that the landlords are becoming targets as law enforcement officials are aiming owners and landlords that are engaged in counterfeiting operations. These landlords are also victims of counterfeiting and incur damage penalties and legal fees.

BASCAP urged that landlords should undertake due diligence checks and understand their tenant’s businesses including provisions in leases that prohibit counterfeiting related activities and should evict tenants that contradicts those provisions.

The government also needs to establish clear conditions under which landlords can be held responsible for the actions of tenants. The enforcement agencies should also increase educational activities to highlight the problem.